Numbering-head



(No-Mode m j J. H. REINHARDT.

NUMBERING HEAD.

No. 561,946. Patented'June 9, 1896,

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JAMES H. REINHARDT, OF NEWARK, NElV JERSEY.

NUMBERlNG-HEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561 ,946, dated June 9, 1896. Application filed May 31, 1895- Serial No. 551,4:20. (No model.)

To all whom it nmy concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES H. Rnnvnnnnr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Numbering-Heads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to machines or devices which are adapted for printing numbers in succession.

The features of improvement wherein the invention consists have been devised and are herein shown and described with relation more especially to their application to consecutive-numbering heads, such as are usually adapted to be locked in the form with the type and to be actuated by the pressure of the platen; but it will be understood, as this description proceeds, that the invention is not limited to the particular use referred to and that the features of improvement, either separately or together, are capable of application to other forms of numbering machines or devices.

The invention consists in improved means for actuating the wheels of the numberinghead to bring the different characters there on in succession to the line of print and in an improved construction and arrangement of the movable type-bl0ck, which usually bears the cipher and is arranged to retire from the printing of the non-significant O at the left of the significant figure or figures may be avoided, and to be supported at the plane of print when required.

The objects which I have in view are the simplification of the construction of the numbering-machine, the decrease of liability to breakage, the reduction to a minimum of the necessary movement of the contact-point by which the numbering-wheels are actuated, greater certainty of operation under all conditions, and the general improvement of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated the embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a numbering-head constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, on

a larger scale, of the movable contact-frame Fig. 3 is a detail view in shown in Fig. 1.

section on the plane indicated by the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view, on a larger scale, of one of the type-wheels, the movable type-block being removed. Fig. 5 is a partial View of one of the type-wheels with the movable type-block in position for printing and with the shaft upon which the typewheels are mounted shown in section. Fig. 6- is a detail view in section through a portion of a type-wheel and the movable typeblock on the plane indicated by the line (3 (i of Fig. 5.

sition necessary to permit the movable typeblock to retire from the plane of print. Fig. 8 is also a similar view showing the typewheel in printing position and the type-block retired from the plane of print. Fig. 9 is an end view of the pawl-frame hereinafter referred to, illustrating a slight modification.

The various working parts of the numberin g-head are, as usual, inclosed and supported by a frame or casing A, in which is secured the shaft B, upon which the type-wheels C C are mounted to revolve. The latter are provided, as usual, with the ratchet-wheels c 0, which are adapted to be engaged by stoppawls c c and by actuating pawls (not shown) carried by a swinging pawl-frame D, which is mounted, as usual, upon the shaft B, having arms (1 and d for this purpose. The contact-point e, which receives the pressure of the platen and, being movable, imparts motion to the pawl-frame D through the connections hereinafter described, may be supported in any desired position with respect to the printing-wheels, but is preferably supported in the line of print by the movable bar or frame E, which preferably has two arms (2 and 6 which are pivoted to the casing A, as at a a, while the bar E bridges the shaft 13.

Parallel with the axis of the shaft 13 is an intermediate lever F, which is pivoted to the casing A, as at a, and has at its free end a pin f, which enters a slot or notch (Z in one of the arms at of the pawl-frame D, the arm 0 of the frame E being cut away or slotted, as at 6 if necessary, to permit the free move ment of the pin f in engagement with the arm d, and being also recessed, as at if necessary, to afford space for the movement of the lever F. A pin f effects engagement between Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5,v but showing the type-wheel moved to the po-.

arm 6' and the lever F at a point between the pivot a, and the pin f, the said pin f being fixed in one part and entering a slotted opening, as f in the other. Suitable springs are provided, as usual, as at E, to move the frame E upwardly or outwardly and to maintain the contact-point e in its normal position.

The operation of this portion of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description. As the contact-point e is reciprocated by the pressure of the platen and the cooperation of the springs the pawl-frame D will be oscillated upon its axis through the medium of the lever F, and as the frame E, which supports the contact-point, is engaged with the lever F at a point between the pivot a and pin f it is obvious that a relatively small movement of the contact-point 6 will be suflicient to give the necessary amplitude to the oscillations of the pawl-frame D.

It will be evident that the contact-point e may be arranged in other positions than that shown on the frame E, and that if desirable the intermediate lever F might be disposed between the arm e and the adjacent side of the casing A, the pawl-frame D being suitably formed, as shown at d in Fig. 9, for engagement with said lever.

Each of the typewheels C G has a central opening 0 to permit of its being mounted upon the shaft B, and each wheel except the units wheel has in one side a recess 0, which extends about half-way through the wheel and opens into the opening 0 for a purpose to be referred to. The body of the wheel may also be out away, as on the line 0 to afford space for the overhang of the movable type-block G, which fits in the recess 0 and is pivoted to the wheel 0 at one side of the type-block, or eccentrically, as at g, so that as the typeblock swings on said pivot the printing-surface of said type-block shall be moved to or retired from the plane of print. The typeblock is formed on its inner edge with a proj ecting finger g, which is adapted to rest normally upon the periphery of the shaft B, and thereby to maintain the type-block in printing position, as represented in Fig. 5. The shaft B, however, has formed therein a recess b, which preferably has one side, 1), straight and disposed as shown, so as to permit a sudden drop of the type-block when the recess is reached by the finger g in its movement with the wheel 0, while the other side, Z2 of the recess is cam-shaped, so as to raise the type-block in the further movement of the wheel. 0.

Byan examination of Figs. 5, 7, and 8 it will be seen that when the wheel 0 is in such a position as to bring the movable type-block to the line of print, as in Fig. 5, the finger 9 will then rest upon the periphery of the shaft B and the type-block G will be held in printing position. If it is desired to retire the typeblock from the plane of print, the wheel 0 is moved a short distance in a forward direction, as represented in Fig. 7, which brings the finger g to the recess 1). The wheel 0 is then moved backward to its original position, and at the same time the finger 9 moves into the recess 1), permitting the surface of the type-block to retire from the plane of print. It will be seen that when the parts are in this position, as shown in Fig. 8, the finger 9" will be held between the shoulder of the wheel C and the side I) of the recess Z), so as to prevent outward movement of the type-block un til the. wheel 0 is again moved forward. In the continued movement of the wheel 0 the type-block will be moved outward by the coop-- eration of the inclined side Z7 and the finger g.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the type-block, when subjected to pressure in printing, will be directly supported by the shaft 13 and that the danger of breakage, which exists when the type-block is supported by a lip or shoulder engaging a notch in the body of the wheel, is altogether avoided and that the operation of the type-block is rendered absolutely certain under all conditions. Moreover, as already pointed out, when the type-block is in the line of print but is retired from the plane of print it is securely held in its retired position, so that it cannot move outward, even if the numbering-machine is bottom side up. Furthermore, the construction and adjustment of theimproved type-block are easy.

That I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a numbering-machine, the combination of a frame or casing, a shaft supported by said frame or casing, a series of typewheels mounted upon said shaft, a frame carrying a contact-point and having arms pivoted to said frame or casing to swing upon an axis transverse to the axis of said shaft, an intermediate lever pivoted at one end to said frame or casin g and engaged between its ends with said frame carrying the contact-point and a pawl-frame mounted to swing upon said shaft and engaged with the free end of said intermediate lever, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a numbering-machine, the combina tion of a frame or casing, a shaft supported by said frame or casing, a series of typewheels mounted upon said shaft, a frame carrying a contact-point and having arms pivoted to said frame or casing to swing upon an axis transverse to the axis of said shaft, one of said arms being recessed upon its outer side and cut away, an intermediate lever pivoted at one end to said frame or casing and disposed within said recess in said arm and engaged between its ends with said arm and having a pin in its free end projecting through the opening in said arm, and a pawl-frame mounted to swing upon said shaft and engaged with the pin projecting from said intermediate lever, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a shaft and a typewheel mounted to rotate thereon, said shaft IIO straight side and with one cam-shaped side, and said wheel having a lateral recess, of a movable type-block located in the lateral recess in the wheel and pivoted eccentrically to said wheel and having a projection to rest upon said shaft and to enter the recess in said shaft, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of twowitnesses, this 26th day of April, 1895.

JAMES H. REINHARDT.

lVitnesses N. E. THILL, WM. WENZ. 

